Cassette support apparatus for cassette tape recording and/or reproducing apparatus accommodating cassettes of difference sizes

Abstract

A cassette tape recording and/or reproducing apparatus capable of selectively loading at least two tape cassettes whose respective spaces between reels differ from each other, has a pair of reel bases moved to be made to coincide with either of the spaces between the reels, a pair of position reference pins used in common to put either of the two tape cassettes in a horizontally and vertically exact position, and a pair of height reference pins moved together with the pair of reel bases to put either of the two tape cassettes in a vertically exact position, so that the bottom face, the front face and the central plane equidistant from a pair of reels of the cassette are exactly put in respective predetermined normal face or plane positions.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. Apparatus capable of selectively loading into a cassette tape recorder chassis at least a large-sized tape cassette and a small-sized tape cassette each having a pair of reels with respective distances between reels being different each other with said large-sized tape cassette and small-sized tape cassette each having a pair of positioning holes in a respective bottom surface at a front end thereof, the apparatus comprising a cassette holder movable between a cassette inserting position whereat one of said cassettes is horizontally inserted front end first and lowered vertically to a cassette loading position situated thereunder and whereat said selected cassette is respectively loaded, a pair of right and left reel bases movably mounted on said chassis so as to coincide in one position with said distance between the reels of the large-sized tape cassette and in another position with said distance between the reels of said small-sized tape cassette, a pair of right and left position reference pins mounted on the chassis used in common to selectively put each said large-sized and small-sized tape cassette in a predetermined horizontal position with the front of said selected cassette in a predetermined vertical position in said cassette loading position by cooperating with said positioning holes formed in said bottom surface of each said large-sized and small-sized tape cassette, and a pair of right and left height reference pins mounted for movement together with said pair of reel bases respectively for further selectively positioning a rear portion of each said large-sized and small-sized tape cassette in a vertical position which is the same as said predetermined vertical position of said front of said cassette. 
     
     
       2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said pair of reel bases include a corresponding pair of mobile bases for movement with said pair of reel bases and said pair of height reference pins are mounted on said pair of mobile bases respectively, thereby to position said rear portion of said small-sized tape cassette in said predetermined vertical position. 
     
     
       3. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the large-sized cassette includes a pair of right and left recesses provided in said bottom surface arranged to prevent contact of said bottom surface of said large-sized cassette with said pair of height reference pins disposed within the tape recorder and mounted on movable tape reel bases thereof and used to put the small-sized tape cassette in its vertically exact position, and; further comprising a second pair of right and left height reference pins mounted on the chassis for further positioning a rear portion of said large-sized tape cassette in a vertical position which is the same as said predetermined vertical position of said front of said large-sized tape cassette.